The Threads of OSM Discussions: Are the Doors Really Open?

OpenStreetMap exists with what Gabriella Coleman calls a collaborative ethical temperament - one that explicitly honors transparency, accessibility, and openness for the purpose of participation. Vibrant and open dialog is key in encouraging and facilitating this participation. But are the doors really open to anyone?

In this talk Alyssa will introduce openthreads, a platform for the analysis and visualization of listserves. Through the openthreads methodology, alongside various visualizations of OSM mailing lists, she’ll demonstrate how OSM dialogs start and exist over time. Who has a voice? What does it mean to participate in OSM discussions? And what can we do to hold ourselves accountable in creating an even more diverse community of participation?